Ivy League Ups and (Yes) Downs

By Laura Pappano

April 11, 2014

It’s not really a popularity contest, but among the Ivies, is anything not competitive? Applications to the University of Pennsylvania rose by more than 14 percent this year and fell by as much at Dartmouth.

“We are doing some work to understand why,” says Maria Laskaris, Dartmouth dean of admissions and financial aid. For one, there are fewer applicants from the Northeast and Midwest, mirroring declining pools of high school students in the regions. And with most attending college within 200 miles of home, she says, “there are fewer students in our own backyard.” Dartmouth’s reputation has also taken a hit over charges that it has failed to combat sexual violence on campus, spurring the president last month to propose a new sexual assault disciplinary policy.

As for the upsurge at Penn, the dean of admissions, Eric J. Furda, credits outreach to community-based organizations, like a new partnership with KIPP Public Charter Schools. More low-income students applied: Penn received 7,000 requests for application fee waivers, up from 4,000 last year. Several popular Penn MOOCs are also raising its profile: “An admissions office simply cannot budget that reach,” Mr. Furda says.

As one might expect, landing a spot at Penn was tougher (10 percent were admitted this year; 12 percent last year) and easier — a little — at Dartmouth (11.5 percent this year; 10 percent last year).